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EDITORIAL: Galvin for Secretary of State

Bill Galvin has run the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office since 1995. And at 67, he's nearly twice the age of his fellow Democrat and challenger Josh Zakim, 34, a Boston city councilor.

Galvin, a former state lawmaker known as the "Prince of Darkness" during his legislative days for his under-the-radar style, has maintained that low-key approach during his more than two decades at the helm of the department that oversees securities, corporations, public records, elections, Massachusetts Historic Commission, and state archives. He's also the director of the state Census, a position for which he received bipartisan support.

And while he's been criticized for not modernizing his operation sooner, overall he's been a solid steward of several vital state functions.

During his watch, he's overseen the implementation of the state's central voter registry, which expedites the process of online and mail-in registrations, while also helping communities update their voting records.

And in the last legislative session, he got behind the passage of the state's automatic voter registration law, which enrolls residents doing transactions with the Registry of Motor Vehicles or MassHealth, from which they can opt out.

And tax credits administered through the Historic Commission have helped revitalize Gateway Cities, including Lowell and Fitchburg, by funneling millions into dozens of projects.

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Galvin also takes pride in holding the financial and securities industries accountable for their fiduciary responsibilities. A prime example: Galvin's office found that more than half of the policyholders insurance giant MetLife had declared deceased and off the books were indeed alive and eligible for pension benefits that had been cut off.

Zakim has tried to dredge up decades-old votes taken by Galvin to show he's not in step with the progressive agenda his young challenger espouses. In truth, Zakim seems more interested in issues that have nothing to do with the duties of the office that he seeks.

With a pivotal mid-term election in November and a presidential election in 2020, we say stick with the experienced hand and vote for Secretary of State Bill Galvin in the Sept. 4 Democratic primary.

Gonzalez for Governor

Being Massachusetts, the Democratic primary race for governor features two candidates to the left of center.

However, in Jay Gonzalez, at least we have someone who knows how the state's chief executive officer operates. Gonzalez served as secretary of Administration and Finance under Gov. Deval Patrick, helping the state weather the fiscally trying times of the Great Recession.

And as chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Health Connector, he oversaw implementation of the state's health reforms.

A former Boston law firm partner and CEO of Waltham-based CeltiCare Health Plan, Gonzalez would also bring a private-sector background to the governor's office.

Bob Massie, his opponent in the Sept. 4 primary, touts his progressive agenda, and can point to his personal physical triumphs over hemophilia and hepatitis.

An unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 1994 and ardent environmental activist, Massie wants to "move aggressively" toward a single-payer health-care system, and forge ahead with major transportation projects, which he sees as part of the solution to income inequality.

While neither fits our description of what a governor should be, Gonzalez would be the preferable option in this race.

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